Automatic band-cutter and feeder



(No Model.) 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

U. H. EDWARDS. AUTOMATIG BAND GETTEE AND EEEEEE.

No, 504,715. Patented Sept 12, 1,898.

i (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- C. H. EDWARDS.

AUTOMATIU BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER.

7 .llilllfll W mwsx UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. EDWARDS, OF ALTA, IOWA.

AUTQMATlC BAND-CUTTER AND FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 50 4,715, dated September 12, 1893.

Application filed December 13, 1892. Serial No. 455,015. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Alta, in the county of Buena Vista and State of Iowa, have invented an Automatic Band-Cutter and Feeder, of which the following is a specification.

My object is primarily to provide a simple, strong and durable duplex conveyor adapted to carry two sheaves in parallel planes at the same time toward the band cutting device and be positive and direct in its operation and readily detached from the machine, for ease and convenience in transportation, storage, and also readily adjusted and folded on top of the machine to be carried thereon, and l accomplish the results contemplated as here inafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the complete band cutter and feeder attached to a thrashing machine, a portion only of which is shown. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. In this figure the dotted lines show the position that the conveyer will be placed in when not in use to facilitate storage and transportation. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the same taken from the opposite side, and Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference letterAis used to designate the thrashing machine of which A is the cylinder.

A designates a frame secured to the machine in juxtaposition to the cylinder. In the opposite sides of this frame near the machine are fixed the brackets A each of which supports a hanger A in such a manner as to allow the hanger to freely swing in either direction. Near the outer end of said frame are secured brackets 13 which depend therefrom and support a cross piece B Mounted upon the said part B are bearings B to support the cranks B, B and allow them to move in the segment of a circle.

B designates two feeding pans having raised serrated portions 13 on their meeting edges, bars B extending transversely of their top portions and the raised serrated portions 13 at their inner ends, to aid in advancing the grain to the cylinder,

An alternate reciprocating movement is imparted to these feeding pans by means of the following mechanism. The inner end of the pans are pivot-ally attached to the hangers A and the outer ends to the cranks 13* thereby allowing reciprocal movements to the pans. O designates a crank shaft supported by brackets O beneath the frame A 0 O designate pitmen pivoted to the oppositely disposed cranks of the crank shaft 0 and hinged to the under sides of the feeding pans B so that a rotary motion applied to the crank shaft C will alternately reciprotate the feeding pans B 0 designates a belt wheel fixed to one end of the crank shaft 0 and C a sprocket wheel fixed to its other end. At the outer end of this frame A are two uprights D supported by the braces D and at the upper end of these uprights is rotatably mounted a cylinder D with which the knives D are detachablyconnected. Said knivesarecurved and sharpened on their forward edges as required to produce a drawing out. The cutting edges are preferably serrated. F designates a bar extending parallel with the cylinder D and supported by the uprights D and fixed to this bar are a plurality of fiat spring metal fenders which curve downwardly under the cylinder D and have their end portions bent upwardly. Their function will be explained hereinafter. F designates a belt wheel fixed to one end of the cylinder 1) and F an idler in juxtaposition to the belt wheel 0 F is a belt passed over a belt wheel connected with the operative mechanism of the thrashing machine over the belt wheel 0 under the idler F and around the belt wheel so that both the feeding pans and the cutting cylinder are thereby operated in concert with the thrashing machine.

The carrier frame is constructed as follows- H designates two parallel side pieces and H a solid bottom piece. H H designate two rollers loosely mounted upon a shaft supported between the side pieces H near the outer end of the bottom piece H I-I designates a single roller fixed to a rotatable shaft H at the inner end of the bottom piece. H designates a sprocket wheel fixed to one end of the shaft H and connected with the sprocket wheel 0 by means of the sprocket chain H to provide means for rotating the roller H J J designate two endless carriers composed of flexible belts and cross pieces fixed thereto. These carriers are extended around the aforesaid rollers and also above and below the bottom of the conveyer frame so that when the rollers are operated the belts will carry any article placed thereon upwardly. The outer end of this frame is supported by means of the uprights J which have a pivotal connection with the said frame, so that they may be swung upwardly parallel with the frame. Means are also provided whereby this frame may be detachably connected with the frame that is fixed to the machine as follows J J are slots formed in the side pieces of the frame and extensions are formed on the ends of the axle of the roller H adapted to enter said slots. The supports of the carrier frame are first folded upon the frame, then the outer end thereof is extended through the space between the cutting cylinder'and the feeding pans until the aforesaid extensions enter the slots J This it will be seen provides a readily detachable connection with the frame of the band cutter and supports the endless carrier some distance above the feeding pans. By means of these journal hearings in; the form of rearwardly extending open slots J 3 adapted to receive the journals IF, the carrier frame is pivotally connected with the machine so that it can be raised and lowered at its free front end and also readily moved rearwardly under the band cutting cylinder D to be placed in position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 for the purpose of economizing space in storing the machine and also forfacilitating moving the machine.

K designates a detachable partition in the conveyor composed of a flat board having its inner end adapted to enter between the cutter cylinder and the end of the carrier frame and its other end extended to the outer end of the carrrier frame. It is supported by means of the rods K K 'adapted to enter bores in the ends of the fender supporting cross piece and by the bars K K adapted to enter bores in the cross piece at the outer end of the carrier frame. By thus detachably connecting the partition with the adjustable carrier frame and the frame: to which the carrier frame is pivotally connected, the partition serves to brace and sup port the carrier frame and to aid in producing two distinctcarriers for advancing grain, and when the partition is detached the carrier can be readily adjusted and placed in posi-- tion, as indicated by dot-ted lines in Fig. 2, to facilitate transportation, to aid in bracing; and supporting the pivoted carrier frame when in use and also to produce two parallel passage ways for grain carried on the two parallel endless carriers in said carrier frame.

The practical operation of the device is as follows. When prepared for storage transportation, &c., the conveyor frame is preferably placed with its one end resting upon the thrashing machine proper and its other end upon the frame which supports the band cutfeed the same.

ting'machine, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. When it is desired to use the device, the carrier and its longitudinal partition are placed in position in the manner before stated. The machinery is then set in operation by means of the operative mechanism of the thrashing machine and sheaves of grain may be fed upon bothof the endless carriers to be thereby elevated and carried under the spring metal fenders and held in position while their bands are severed by the curved knives. The said endless carrier-preferably terminates directly beneath the knives so as to prevent the device from becoming clogged. It will be seen however that if either of the endless carriers should become clogged the other will still carry sufficient grain to the thrasher to After the bands of the sheaves have been severed the feeding pans will aid in holding the straw straight and feeding them gradually in the thrashing cylinder.

Having thus described the construction and function of each part of the device, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor,

1. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination of the following elements to wit; a frame permanently attached to a thrashingmachine, a rotatable cylinder, having knives,supported by said frame and adaptedto sever the bands of sheaves of grain, means for advancing the grain from said cylinder toward the thrashing cylinder, and a conveyer for advancing bundles of grain to the said band-cutting cylinder, comprising suitable carrier mechanism in a frame adapted to pass between the said band cutting cylinder and the mechanism for advancing the grain to the thrashing cylinder, and, when not in use to be moved forward between the said cylinder and feeding'mechanism and rest uponthe top of thethrashing machine and the frame for supporting the bandcutting cylinder, for the purposes stated.

2. In a band cutter and feeder the combination of the following elements, to wit; aframe A permanently attached to a thrashing machine, uprights- D at the outer end of said frame, a cylinder D having knives D supported by said uprights, an endless carrier frame composed of the parts H and H a roller mounted in the outer end of the frame, a 1'0- tatable shaft H 'extended transversely of the inner end of the carrier frame with its ends extended beyond the sides thereof, rollers H secured to said shaft, endless carriers passed over the rollers H and the roller at the outer end of the frame, a sprocket wheel H secured to one end of the shaft H to provide means whereby it may be rotated and the slots J 3 J a in the sides of the frame A to admit the ends of the shaft H all arranged and combined substantially as and for the purposes stated.

3. In aband cutter and feeder, the combination of a fixed frame having a rotating band cutter in its top portion, a carrier frame piv otally and detachably connected with the said fixed frame in a plane below the rotatinging two endless carriers mounted thereon in 1 parallel position, a frame having a rotating cutter mounted thereon to extend across said carrier in a plane above the carrier and rearwardly inclined open slots or bearings in its sides to admit the ends of ashaft or journals extending outward from the sides of the frame that supports the carriers as shown and described to pivotally connect the carrier frame with the fixed frame and also to allow longitudinal movement of the carrier frame, relative to the fixed frame and a partition adapted to be detachably fixed to the said frames to separate the two parallel carriers, arranged and combined to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

5. In aband cutter and feeder, a fixed frame adapted to support a rotating band cutter at its top portion and the sides of the frame provided with open slots J and a carrier frame having journals H extended outward and adapted to enter and traverse said slots, ar-

ranged and combined so that the carrier frame can be raised and lowered at its free front end and also moved longitudinally underneath the rotating band cutter in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

6. An improved band cutter and feeder for thrashing machines, comprising a framehaving rearwardly extended open slots or bearings in its sides adapted to support the ends of a rotating shaft, a rotating band cutter mounted across the top portion of said frame and vibratory pans in the lower portion thereof, a movable carrier frame having a rotating shaft at one end and the ends of the shaft ex tended to enter said bearings in the frame that supports the cutter, two rollers at the other end and endless carriers on the said shaft and two rollers, a detachable partition between the two carriers, an adjustable support at one end of the said movable carrier frame, and mechanism for operating the rotating band cutter, the vibrating pans, and the endless carriers, arranged and combined to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

CHARLES H. EDWARDS. Witnesses:

J. A. AHRENS, J. E. PICKERING. 

